Camp Near Falmouth Va
February 20th 1863
Dear Mother
I received your kind letter of the 3rd and 6th of Feb this morning. You desired me to give you list of battles I have been in, they are as follows. The first engagement was the battle of Fair Oaks on the 31st May and 1st of June[.] The battle in the Peach Orchard[,] Savage Station[,] and White Oaks Swamp June 29th to 29th June 30th.
This ends the Peninsula campaign. Then we came to Md and fought the battle of Antietam[.] from thence we came here and fought the battle of Fredricksburg Sept 17th and December 13[.] These are the battles I have been in but not all the skirmish[.] I have been in the following skirmish opposite Edwards Ferry[,] York Town[,] Berryville[,] West Point[,] Malverin Hill under artilry fire 4 hours and then coming from the 2nd battle of Bull Run[.] on our retreat to Washington we formed a V across the road and repelled the Rebble Cavalry that was following up the rear of our army. There is a good many little places that I do not remember and if I get home before I forget them I will most likely tell you them[.] I have been evry whare the Regt has been excepting 1st Bull Run and I came near killing myself trying to get there so I do not think I am to blame for not getting there. Mother[,] “If you have been led to believe by my betters that I am very anxious to get home before the Rebellion is crushed[,] or that in the hasty letters I have written you, that I thought the soldier’s life a hard one, it is something I never intended to do. I acknowledge we do have some hard times, and that if we would give way to the impulses of a moment, a fellow would feel as if he could work for any boddy but uncle Sam[,] But when we get in camp and have time to get a cup of warm coffee and a slice of corn beef – or more commonly called “salt horse” – he feels as if he might stand it a very little while longer[.] Tell Uncle James that nothing would pleas me better than to hear that old Langdon had been ducked by the citizans of Winona[.] if Co. K wer only there he would not only get plucked but he might some fine day have the pleasure of rideing on the soft sid of a rough rail.
[…]
Mother I can assure you I never intended to hint in any of my letters that your letters are tedious, but on the contrary it gives me great pleasure to read them and nothing I like better than long ones. I am such a poor hand to write news or any thing interesting that I thought such long ones might not interest you[.] There are at the present in our Regt about 400 men fit for a march and in our Company we draw rations for 39 men and generly 1 or 2 of these are on the sick report.
[…]
Give my best respects to all of my friends and love to Brother Orren
Goodby Chas. E. Goddard

One Response to “Letter from Charles Goddard of the 1st Minnesota to his mother listing battles he’s been in and clearing up misunderstandings – February 20, 1863”

It was exciting to read your letter from Charles Goddard to his mother. I also have letters from my great grandfather to his family at home from various locations while serving in the Civil War. I have a collect of letters and memorabilia from the Civil War on view to the public at the Prospect House and Civil War Museum. Check out our website http://www.prospecthousemuseum.org and I would enjoy hearing more from you and about your family.